1. Topeak Explorer Rack

Topeak specializes in affordable cycling accessories, offers a lightweight aluminum rack that will expand the storage options on your bike with very little monetary investment.

At just 1.38 lbs., you won’t notice the added weight of this rack, which offers an impressive weight capacity of 57 lbs.

The Topeak Explorer is a standard rear bike rack. It installs to the threaded eyelets on the seat stays and rear-wheel dropouts. This rack can also be purchased in a version that works with disc mount bikes. An optional extra-long mounting bracket arm is sold separately for bikes with smaller frames.

Additional features include a tail-light mount on the rear of the rack that allows for the use of mountable rear lights with 80mm mounting holes. With a low price point, the Topeak Explorer Rack is one of the best values you can find for a rear rack.

2. Ibera Bike Rack

The Ibera may be one of the lowest-priced rear bike rack you can find, giving it a lot of bang for its buck.

It’s made of corrosion-resistant heat-anodized aluminum, weighs in at just 1.65 lbs. It’s 15” long and can carry up to 55 lbs. Adjustable bottom rods mean this rack can fit most 26” and 29” bike frames.

The wide top plate can also double up as a fender and splash guard in wet conditions. A mount is included in the back of the rack for reflectors and tail lights.

Planning on using this rack for touring?

The Ibera bike rack is designed to be compatible with Ibera’s trunk bags and bike panniers.

3. Planet Bike Eco

Planet Bike, founded in 1996, has a mission to get people riding bikes everywhere: work, school, grocery stores, coffee shops.

So, it makes sense that its products are focused on making bikes more capable of filling your transportation needs. That’s the case with the Planet Bike Eco Rack, which is designed to facilitate greater use of your bike.

This rack is 12.5” long and made of lightweight aluminum. It’s also compatible with just about any bike. In fact, Planet Bike boasts that the Eco will fit the majority of mountain, hybrid and road bike frames.

It weighs just under 1.5 lbs. and is capable of carrying loads up to 55 lbs. Installation is via the seat stay and rear wheel drop out eyelets.

4. Blackburn Outpost

This innovative rack from a company that’s been designing bike accessories since the 1970s allows you to adjust its height and width to fit wheel sizes ranging from 26” to 29” and tire widths ranging from 1 to 4”. And, of course, it’s also disc wheel compatible.

High-grade aluminum adds strength to this rack, which has a weight capacity of 70 lbs. Installation is through rear wheel dropout eyelets or through quick axel release. The total weight of the Blackburn Outpost is just under 2.5 lbs.

5. Tubus Logo Evo Classic

Look no further than the Logo Evo Classic from Tubus, a German company that specializes in bike carriers.

With a carrying capacity of a whopping 88 lbs., this is one of the strongest racks you can buy. Because it’s designed to carry so much weight, this rack is built for touring. As such, it offers several features for panniers.

A lower pannier mounting bar improves the stability of the bags by creating a lower center of gravity. This also frees up more space for storing gear on top of the rack.

Built for off-road use, the Tubus Logo Evo Classic is engineered for better impact absorption. Despite all of that rugged weight-carrying ability, this rack is still among the lightest racks on the market at 1.6 lbs.

6. Thule Pack 'N Pedal Tour Rack

Bike rack giant Thule has you covered with its version of the mountable bike rack, the Pack ‘N Pedal Tour Rack. This rack can mount to the back or front of your bike and doesn’t use your frame’s eyelets. Instead this rack uses locking straps that wrap around the seat stays or front fork of your bikes.

The straps include rubberized grips that prevent the racks from sliding while in use. This installation system makes this rack compatible with virtually any bike style. It also allows for an easy uninstall when not in use.

The Thule Pack ‘N Pedal Tour Rack is also one of the lighter duty racks on the market with a weight capacity of just 25 lbs. This makes it a better option for light touring, commuting or a quick trip to the supermarket.

7. Lumintrail Rack

Lacking the proper mounting eyelets for a standard bike rack and looking for solutions?

Lumintrail, a company that manufactures a wide variety of biking accessories, has the answer. Its bike commuter carrier rack mounts to your seat post, making it compatible with virtually any bike.

This durable and lightweight carrier rack weighs just 1.5 lbs.

At 20 lbs. capacity, this rack may not be feasible for bike touring; however, it is a good option for commuters. It measures just over 11” long and features two elastic straps that help hold your gear in place. Installation is simple with a single quick-release bracket that tightens to your seat post.

The Lumintrail fits seatposts ranging in diameter from .85” to 1.3” and includes attachments for a reflector or light.

8. Topeak Super Tourist

Topeak has the answer for you with it Super Tourist rack. It fits all bike frames with disc brakes. Installation is standard to your bike’s rear-wheel dropout eyelets and seat stay eyelets.

It weighs in at just over 1.5 lbs. and has a carrying capacity of 55 lbs.

Designed for serious touring, it features Topeak’s QuickTrack system, which allows for the quick attachment or removal of Topeak’s QuickTrack rear trunk bags, bike panniers or baskets with the click of a button.

A second side-bar provides a lower pannier attachment, allowing you to store more on the top of the rack. A solid fender top shields your back from mud while mounts for a reflector or tail light keep you visible to traffic.

4 Things to Know Before Buying Rear Bike Racks

While rear bike racks looks like a surprisingly simple bike components, you can’t just buy without knowing the minute details.

As with many things, there are many factors to consider to ensure that the rack that you end up buying will be compatible with your needs and bike set up.

Let’s take a look at the 4 main factors to consider.

1. Rack Material

Rear bike racks are mainly made with either alunimum or steel. Each one has their pros and cons, so let’s take a deeper look.

Aluminum. The biggest advantage of an aluminum is weight as. Weight can be a significant factor when considering the overall weight of your bike plus your cargo. You don’t want to haul more than you have to.

Steel.Steel racks are notably heavier than aluminum racks, but they’re also considerably stronger. If you’re planning on using your rack for heavier objects or as a mount for add-ons such as panniers then you might consider going with a heavier steel rack.

2. Maximum Load

When it comes to bike racks it’s important to consider its maximum load, which can vary significantly from one rack to another.

Most rear racks are rated to carry between 20 and 50 lbs.

Sometimes, you can find touring racks that can handle as much as 90 lbs. of weight. The Tubus Logo Evo Classic, for example, has a weight capacity of 88 lbs.

These higher load capacity racks typically have more support bars than lower capacity racks.

Consider what you plan on using the rack for and how much weight you’ll need it to handle. Overloading a rack is a recipe for disaster.

3. Bike Compatibility

Up until recently, rear racks have been designed for bikes with standard wheel sizes and standard rim brakes. However, with the growing popularity of disc brakes and larger wheel sizes, the market for rear racks has changed.

Disc brake bikes are not compatible with standard racks because the disc brake caliper sticks out, interfering with the support bars that attach to the dropout mounts.

But don’t worry. A whole line of rear racks that work with disc brake bikes, such as the Topeak Super Tourist and are compatible with disc brakes bikes.

The proliferation of 29-er mountain bikes, which also are not compatible with standard racks, and the growing popularity of off road touring has created a market of rear bike racks, such as the Blackburn Outpost.

Just make sure that the rack you choose is compatible with your bike before making a purchase.

4. Mounting Type

You basically have two options to consider when deciding how you want to attach a rear rack to your bike; eyelets, and seatpost.

Eyelets. The standard rear rack attaches to four mounting points, also called eyelets. The eyelets are located on the left-hand and right-hand seat stay, and above the rear-wheel dropouts on both the left and the right.

Seatpost. What do you do if your bike’s frame doesn’t have eyelets? Just use a rear rack that clamps to your seat post. Lumintrail, for example, manufactures a rear rack that attaches to the seat post. And Thule’s Pack ‘N Pedal Tour Rack straps to your bike’s seat stays or fork. Although these are sturdy racks, they may not have the load capacity that traditional racks offer, so make sure to check the capacity.